Tuesday, 18 September 2007

Landmark human rights battle by mum of six backed by campaigning MP

A MERSEYSIDE mum is making legal history by going to the European courts to get back her baby daughter, who was taken away and adopted.

In 2005, Pauline Goodwin, 39, had her three-day-old daughter taken away by social services.

She has not seen her baby girl in 15 months and has since been told that she was adopted.

Ms Goodwin said her fight to get her daughter back had been held up for more than a year because she was never given a copy of vital court paperwork to allow her appeal.

Now the Halewood mum-of-six is taking her case to the European Court of Human Rights in a groundbreaking case backed by a campaigning MP.

She said: “When they took her away, I made a promise to myself that I would never give up on getting her back.

“Part of me is missing, because she is gone. My other children keep asking about her because there is a big gap in our family. It is terrible she isn’t here – she needs to come back home.”

Ms Goodwin has five other children and, when her marriage broke down in 2003, she had a breakdown.

She initially welcomed social services help, but never dreamt it would lead to her children being taken into care in February 2004.

Ms Goodwin was told it was because her home was messy and her children had missed school and medical appointments.

Social workers also claimed they had received anonymous reports about them being ill-treated or neglected.

Ms Goodwin said her children were always loved and well cared for.

Because her other children were in care, Ms Goodwin feared the same fate awaited her sixth child when she fell pregnant.

She was born in June, 2005. Three days later, Knowsley council went to court and the baby was taken into care.

At first, Ms Goodwin and her older children were allowed regular visits, but contact dwindled as the local authority prepared to put the baby up for adoption.

A few days after her first birthday, the baby was placed with adoptive parents.

Ms Goodwin said: “If I had been convicted of child abuse or I was an alcoholic or had a criminal record, then I would understand. But I didn’t deserve this.

“I’ve been told that my chances in the European courts are good. It could set a precedent and I hope it does. I am taking on social services, the government and the judges, but I have to for my daughter.”

Ms Goodwin intends to apply to the court to have her older children, who are in care, returned to the family home.

MP John Hemming campaigns on forced adoption as chairman of Families for Justice.

He said: “Ms Goodwin’s case is the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of professionals messing up parents’ lives. There are some very odd things happening in Liverpool family courts.”

A spokeswoman for Knowsley Council said: “It would be inappropriate for the council to comment at this stage.”

Concern at court powers

CAMPAIGNERS claim babies and young children are put up for forced adoption at an alarming rate.

When Ms Goodwin’s baby was taken into care there were three other mums losing newborns that week.

Beverley Beech, of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services, said: “This is not the first time I have heard stories like these. It is legalised kidnapping.

“The whole system conspires against parents. Forced adoptions are rife because families are stuck with lawyers who do not defend them properly, and social workers who take action ahead of proper legal authority.

“It is an outrage. We have courts sitting in secret. The general public wouldn’t believe this is going on in Britain today.”

Leading family law solicitor Sarah Harman said: “People don’t know what goes on in our family courts. There is a complete lack of transparency because judgements are not reported and families are forbidden from talking about cases.”

Infant taken as mum recovered from birth

HELEN Brown (not her real name) had her nine-day-old baby girl taken as she lay in hospital recovering from childbirth.

Fifteen months on, the tot is earmarked for adoption.

But Helen, who has already lost two sons through adoption, has taken her case to London’s Court of Appeal after learning how to appeal against a court order on the internet.

Legally unrepresented, Helen spoke to top family judge, Lord Justice Ward, for 20 minutes to explain why she ought to be allowed to keep her baby girl.

Helen, in her late 20s and from Knowsley, is still waiting to hear whether she will be allowed to challenge the care order.

She said: “I love my kids and I am doing this for the sake of my daughter. I promised myself I would never give up the fight.

“I was so scared going to London to appear in court. It was just me and the judge, who listened to what I had to say.

“He could see I wasn’t a scumbag who didn’t care about her kids. There is a bond between me and my sons and daughter that no one can break.”

Baby Caroline was born last summer, but Helen knew social workers were waiting to take the baby.

Helen suffers from emotional problems, which make her agitated, angry and emotional. Social workers feared they would lead to her neglecting her children.

She is now keen to undergo psychotherapy and said her problems did not stop her from being a good mother.

For the past two years, Helen has had a permanent address, a partner and a full-time job.

She is a qualified first aider and been awarded work-related qualifications.

Helen is allowed to send one letter a year to her sons, now aged four and seven. The pair were adopted together; she has not seen them for four years.

She said: “In the best interests of my sons, I have decided not to challenge their adoptions. They are too far down the road in their new lives.

“The only way I can come to terms with it is to remember they are beautiful and thriving where they are. I know they have a good life and everything they want.

“But it is not too late for my baby daughter.”

A spokeswoman for Knowsley council said they could not comment on the case to protect individuals involved and because of possible legal proceedings.